EXPLORE 2020-2021 the cairngorms national park Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh visitscotland.com Welcome to… Contents 2 The Cairngorms National the cairngorms Park at a glance 4 Heart of the park national park 6 Wild and wonderful THE HOME OF COUNTRYCLOTHING Fàilte gu Pàirc Nàiseanta 8 Touching the past SCOTLAND’SMOST PRESTIGIOUS INDEPENDENT STORE a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh 10 Outdoor adventures 12 Natural larder 14 Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 16 What’s on 18 Travel tips 20 Practical information 24 Places to visit 32 Leisure activities 35 Food & drink 35 Tours 35 Events & festivals 36 Family fun 37 Accommodation 44 Regional map The Watchers at Corgarff, SnowRoads scenic route Are you ready for a wild and wonderful welcome? Then step inside Britain’s biggest National Park. This really is a mighty place of towering mountains, arctic plateaux, hidden glens and deep forests. You could fit two Lake Districts into the Cairngorms National Ashopping destination like no other, exquisite gift ideas in our Country Park, so it’s fair to say that you will have more than enough The House of Bruar showcases Living Department, then enjoy spectacular Scottish scenery, exhilarating the very best in Scottish style astroll through our Art Gallery adventures and family-friendly activities to with original creations in luxury and Fishing Department. The make your stay unforgettable. natural fibres. Premium lambswool, best of Scotland’snatural larder Cover: Kincraig fine merino and pure cashmere takes centre stage throughoutour Come and get a real feel for adventure, are all beautifully represented in Food Hall, Restaurant, Bakery enjoy family-friendly activities and exciting Credits: @VisitScotland, agorgeous cascade of colours, and Delicatessen, while our events across the Cairngorms National Park Kenny Lam, Damian Shields, complementedbytraditional and award-winning Butchery continues throughout the year. Jakub Iwanicki, Neil McIntyre, contemporary designs in leather, to go from strength to strength. Airborne Lens, Paul Tomkins, suede, sheepskin and tweed. Richard Elliot, North East 250/ Exclusive in-house styles stand No trip to Scotland is complete Damian Shields 20HCNP alongside choice selections from without avisit to The House of leading brands such as Barbour, Bruar,located just off the A9 ten Schoffel and Dubarry to offer miles north of Pitlochry. everything you need to complete Shown hereisataste of our new your country wardrobe. Autumn/Winter 2019-20 range. Produced and published by APS Group Scotland (APS) in conjunction with VisitScotland (VS) and Highland News & Media (HNM). To order acopy of the latest mail Disclaimer APS / VS / HNM have produced and published this guide in good faith to reflect information submitted by the proprietors/managers of the businesses listed who have paid for Experience country living at its best order catalogue please call us or and approved their entries to be included. Although APS / VS / HNM have taken reasonable steps to confirm the accuracy of information contained in this guide at the time of going to press, they cannot guarantee that the information published is and remains accurate. Accordingly, APS / VS / HNM recommend that all information is checked with the proprietor/manager of with highest quality homeware and visit our website. the business prior to visiting/booking to ensure that the accommodation, facilities, price and all other aspects of the business are satisfactory. APS / VS / HNM accept no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation contained in the guide and exclude all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the information contained in this guide. APS / VS / HNM The House of Bruar by Blair Atholl, Perthshire, PH18 5TW Telephone: 01796 483 236 Email: offi[email protected] accept no responsibility for the contents of any pages referenced by an external link and exclude all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the information contained in an external link. APS / VS / HNM also cannot accept any liability for loss caused by the bankruptcy, or liquidation, or insolvency, or cessation of trade of any company, firm or individual www.houseofbruar.com contained in this guide. Quality Assurance awards are correct as at January 2020. 2 the cairngorms national park OU KN discover Y O D W I ? more… D Nearly half of the ' Get on your bike and discover land in the National the abundance of cycle paths Park isconsidered and trails exploring the ‘wild land’. dense woodland and open plains across the park. w w om w. .c ' This is glorious driving visit tland sco country – particularly if you have a tough 4x4. Buckle up for an off-road Land Rover safari on Rothiemurchus, Balmoral, Glenlivet, Invercauld or Atholl estates to zoom round every inch of our stunning landscapes. ' You can also follow the new North East 250 scenic route, which passes through the the cairngorms National Park. ' Don’t miss the Snow Roads national park Scenic Route, a 90-mile journey from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey traversing at a glance the highest public road in Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Britain and travelling through the outstanding landscapes Ruaidh aig aon sealladh Uath Lochans from Farleitter Crag, Kingussie of the eastern Cairngorms. Ruined castles on remote islands, ancient distilleries, adrenaline-fired outdoor sports, rare wildlife Tomintoul The surroundings are majestic – more… mountains, forests, lush fields and – you can enjoy them all in the Cairngorms National Park – why not join us for a spot of adventure? Breathe deeply at Tomintoul – the ' Don’t miss the newly opened You’ll find brilliant outdoor pursuits on offer, enticing events, as well as fantastic festivals to keep air truly is rare here. The village a tumbling river. You can pick up Grantown East Heritage the whole family entertained for hours. perches amid the mountains at a some delicious local produce in Centre, which includes some height of 1,164ft above sea level, Ballater, or stop for a hearty meal fantastic interactive displays making it the highest village in the in Braemar. Then go for a walk in Aviemore and the Cairngorms Where’s Santa? On the hills nearby crazy crossings, Tarzan swings and a café set in an old Highlands. the hills above Balmoral Castle, the Aviemore is surrounded by lush you can see the UK’s only free- and a monster zip wire through vintage carriage. Royal Family’s summer residence. Highland scenery in the north west grazing herd of reindeer. the pine trees. The high quality of the night skies ' The sculptures on the corner of the majestic Cairngorms From Kingussie you can step right Where do polar bears, amur above Tomintoul and Glenlivet Atholl and Glenshee Frank Bruce Sculpture Trail, National Park. Towering mountains, out onto the mighty Monadhliath tigers, wolves and Japanese snow in Moray have earned the area a Explore Blair Atholl, Glenshee Feshiebridge will stop you in sparkling lochs and dense forests mountains for fantastic hillwalking monkeys all hang out together? prestigious award by becoming and Killiecrankie with its famous your tracks. Beautiful, sad, surround the bustling town of and climbing. Or you can try You can see them all at the Highland Scotland’s second International ‘Soldier’s Leap’ – a fearsome rocky powerful – they conjure up Aviemore. some different outdoor activities Wildlife Park, near Kincraig. Dark Sky Park. The Tomintoul & chasm that a gutsy Redcoat leapt all sorts of emotions. This Glenlivet - Cairngorms Dark Sky Park Come in winter for winter sports, including golf, pony trekking and over to save his neck while fleeing 1-mile walk is free and truly To stroll round a traditional is not only the darkest park in the in summer for watersports and watersports. his enemies. special, yet may well be one Highland town, head for Grantown- UK but it is also the most northernly anytime for mountain biking, of Scotland’s least-known Join the red squirrels high in the on-Spey. Shop for some tasty local Dark Sky Park in the world. Angus Glens walking and climbing. Aviemore attractions. Rothiemurchus forest on the aerial produce then take your picnic on a The Angus Glens are one of truly is a year-round outdoor leisure ' Discover the Cairngorms adventure course at TreeZone. beautiful walk in the community- Royal Deeside and Strathdon Scotland’s lesser known beauty location and gateway to some of National Park in style on the Kids and adults alike can test their owned woodlands. You’ll soon see why Royal Deeside spots. There are five glens, and they Scotland’s highest mountains. charming Strathspey Railway. balance – and courage – on beams, has been the favoured area of kings each have their own character – Tuck into afternoon tea on and queens for hundreds of years. which will you get to know first? board the train, or hop off at Boat of Garten to see osprey VISITSCOTLAND.COM VISITSCOTLAND.COMchicks in May and June. 4 the cairngorms national park kayaking, and sailing, and there Pop into Blair Atholl Watermill highlights OU KNO are also opportunities for climbing, where you can buy flour and Y W D ' Life here in centuries past I ? abseiling and mountain biking. oatmeal produced on site. You can D The Cairngorms also take a tour of the mill or relax could be hard, but the people National Park is home Royal Deeside with a coffee. had a strong, caring and to four of the five Braemar is a village within Royal creative sense of community. highest mountains Deeside, an area much loved by Spittal of Glenshee See their history for yourself in the UK. generations of the Royal Family. Love the outdoors? Glenshee is at the Highland Folk Museum w From here you can enjoy a superb a wild and wonderful part of the near Newtonmore.